Murphy leads 22 senators in urging Trump to fund Sea Grant

Washington – Before the Trump administration is expected to unveil a Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, led 22 other senators in urging President Trump to fund the National Sea Grant College Program at no less than current levels. In a Jan. 31 letter to President Trump, the senators highlighted the important role Sea Grant Programs play in boosting local economies and preserving coastal communities.

The National Sea Grant College Program is a critical source of funding for Connecticut’s Sea Grant Colleges program at UConn Avery Point, Murphy’s office said in a news release on Feb. 1. Despite President Trump’s proposal to eliminate the National Sea Grant College Program in FY 2018, Murphy led a bipartisan effort to defend the program.

“We urge you to fund the National Sea Grant College Program at no less than current levels,” the senators wrote. “Sea Grant is vital to local businesses and an important part of preserving coastal communities for generations to come. Sea Grant’s work supporting waterfront and maritime businesses speaks for itself. The federal investment in Sea Grant centers yields $611 million in economic benefit, an 825 percent return on federal investment. We encourage you to provide robust support for the program in your final Fiscal Year 2019 budget.”

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Connecticut Sea Grant, located at the UConn Avery Point campus, is a state and federal partnership through the UConn and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Sea Grant College Program.